Jack



Dec. 3l, 1,940. M. B. LUC'KER 2,227,397

, JACK Filed March 10, 1938 .lumnllr INVENTOR ATroRNxmf,

Patented Uec. 31, 1940 y' A. UNITED *STATES PATENT 'OFI-*lcs 'l isolani.(ci. 25e-10s) This invention relates to a pushing and pulling device andmore particularly to' a device adapted to be used as an automobile jackor as a portable automobile body repair tool.

I'he invention is particularly adaptable to a ja'ck or repair tool ofthe so-called friction grip type, which includes a relatively longsupporting rod on which a housing is adapted to be moved by means of oneor more clutches pivotally l0 mounted within or on. the housing andadapted alternately to grip and release the rod. whereby the housingwhich carries the load, in the case of a jack, is propelled upwardlyalong the housing` to lift the load. Among the objects of my inl ventlonare to provide an improved construction for a device of the foregoingcharacter, wherein there is provided actuating and/or releasing clutchconstructions formed of a plurality of plates or layers, as for instancea two-layer or two-plate clutch, for actuating and/or for holding thehousing in gripping relation with the longitudinal rod, whereby toprovide a more effective gripping action during the canting of theclutches, and whereby to provide a more effective interaction betweenthe housing and the clutches; to provide these and other objects ofinvention as will be apparent from a perusal of the followingspecification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of one form of my improved constructionparticularly illustrated in the form of a jack;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view showing the operation of theactuatingor lifting clutch in its support gripping position:

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the holding clutch inreleased position:

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line l-B of Fig. 1:

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of onelayer of the holding clutch; and

Fig. 'l is a perspective view of one layer of 4the .M actuating orlifting clutch.

2 Referring now to the device in detail:

in general my invention comprises an elongated upright 2 preferablyformed as a rod or tube and preferably of circular cross section,although it t0 may be polygonal in cross section. This upright 2 issupported in any suitable base I, with which it makes a detachablefriction grip whereby the elongated support 2 is held in generallyupright position. The `upper portion of this elongated support 2 ispreferably peened over slightly, as at t, to form a stop or head whichis adapted to contact with a portion of the saddle support hereinafterdescribed, to prevent detachment of the saddle support from the housingand from the support 2. 5

Cooperating with the elongated upright 2 is a. housing 8 of preferablycylindrical cross section in part and preferably considerably elongatedin the direction of the upright 2. This housing is formed preferably asa one-piece or integral l0 metal casting, although it may be in someinstances formed of heavy gauge pressed sheet metal or steelconstruction. The housing includes at its upper portion a substantiallyelongated sleeve-like member I0 having the upper 15 end inwardlyextending. as at I2, and formed with an opening I4 which closely4surrounds the upright 2 and providing an upper bearing of the housingfor this upright 2.

The upper portion of the housing, as at I2, is 20 formed as asubstantially horizontal platform when the housing is in verticalposition. The

central portion of the housing is formed as a meansl for supporting thelifting and holding clutch mechanism, whereby the housing is verti- 25cally shifted along the upright 2. The bottom of the housing is providedwith an inwardly extendi ing partition I6 which has an opening ilregistering with the opening Il of the flange l2. This bottom inwardlyprojecting flange It forms a botso tom bearing for the upright 2. Thehousing is provided with an internally 'projecting flange 2l locatedbetween the two ilanges I2 and l2, which iiange forms a dividingabutment and pivot for the actuating clutch. c 35 'I'he actuatingclutchis preferably formed of a p plurality of elements shownspecifically in Fig. '1. They comprise a preferably round, washer-likeshaped, sheet metal stamping 22 having an opening 24 centrally thereofand a laterally projecting o actuating lug 28. 'I'here are preferablytwo of these sheet metal elements which are superimposed and have theiropenings 24 registering to receive therethrough the upright 2. Therearmost edge of the uppermost element abuts against 5 the upper face ofthe inward projection 20, whereby to form a pivot to permit theseactuating plates to be tilted with respect to the rod or upright 2.- Theinner edges of the openings 2l form biting or gripping jaws adapted,when the clutch is tilted, to grip the upright and whereby the housingmay be advanced upwardly of the rod4 2. The outer end of this clutchplate 22 is adapted detachably to fit within a furcation 28 of anoperating lever 30 detachably pivoted to the hous- 55 ing, as at 32,through a longitudinal slot 34 formed in the front wall of the housing.For this purpose the walls Iofthe housing l project forwardly, as at Il,to form spaced apart cheeks. These cheeks are perforated to receive thepivotal pin 32. The end of the lever may be of sumcient length to permitthe clutch-like member to be shifted angularly and whereby uponoscillation of this lever 30 the housing 36 will be lifted upwardlyalong the rod 2, by the gripping action of this lifting clutch 22. Aspring $8 is coiled between the upper face of the inwardly extendingflange Il and takes against the under side of the lower layer of theclutch member 22 whereby to keep the clutch` normally upwardly againstthe under surface of tion 20. v

'I'he holding clutch plates, one of -which is shown in perspective inFig. 6, are formed somewhat similarly to the lifting clutch, beingprovided with a central relatively round or washerlike portion 40provided with an integral diametrically extending lug 42 and anoppositely extending operating lug 44. The central open.

ing 46 registers with the central opening of the other layer or plate ofthis holding clutch. The holding clutch is preferably formed of stampedsheet metal, and like the operating clutch is preferably hardened togive it proper wear. 'I'he two layers of the holding clutch are placedin superimposed relation and are adapted to have their registering ends42 received in aslot 48 in the housing 8 generally opposite theelongated slot 34. A -sprin'g 50, coiledbe'tween the upper side of theflange 20 andthe under side of the lower clutch section 40, normallytends to cant this clutch to the position shown in Fig. l, such that itnormally grips the upright 2 and holds the housing in fixed positionrelative to this rod. Upon movement of the holding clutch to anuncanrted position, as shown in Fig. 3. a releasing action is effectedwhich permits the downward travel of the housing relatively to theupright '2. This releasing is effected by insertion of a rod 52 in theopening 34 on the under side of a bottom edge I4 of said opening of thehousing, and by pressing slightly downwardly upon the upper face of theoperating tongue 44 the holding clutch will be shifted to uncantedposition.

The load supporting member preferably comprises a conically shapedsleeve or rin'g 56 having a bottom edge 58 and-an upper opening 60registering with the opening I4 of the main housing. This load supportis provided with a projecting saddle in the form of a laterallyextending prong 62 which is adapted to receive, for instance, a bumpersuppor-t i4 for raising an automobile from the ground. By formin-g thisload'support as an independent element, I a-m enabled considerably todecrease the cost of manufacture of rthe Jack housing; to bring thesaddle, which receives the weight of the load, much closer to 'thelongitudinal axis of the rod 2, whereby to eliminate undue lateralstrain of the housing on the upright 2 during the lifting and releasingoperation, thereby making the operation of the jack much sm'oother andeasier in actuation and I am enabled to place the upper bearing I2 atthe maximum distance from the lower bearing I 6, thereby providing agreater distance between these bearings and thereby reducing to a mini-lmum the lateral tilting or shifting of the rod or upright 2 relative tothe housing. In addition, by forming this load support 56 as an entirelyseparable and independent element from the the inwardly extendingparti-- housing' I, I am enabled to permit it angularly to shift aroundthe rod 2. The head 8 on the upper end ofthe rod maintains this loadsupport 56 in assembled relation with respect to the housing l and tothe rod 2.

During assembly of the jack, the rod is inserted through theload support58 and housing I il, the clutch members and operating levers and springshaving been inserted through the opening 34, and then the 'base 4 isattached to the lower end of the upright 2 by means of its frictiongrip, whereby to produce a completely assembled job.

By forming the clutches of sheet metal and forming them in superposedlayers or sections, I am' sible toprovide a much cheaper type ofconstruction an'd likewise to form the gripping edges more closelytogether so that with a minimum tilt I secure a maximum grip. Inaddition, I provide a plurality of gripping or biting contacts for eachclutch. since there are two layers and each layer will provide twooppositely disposed gripping contacts, making a total of four grippingcontacts in all for each clutch. Itwill thus be seen that by my improvedconstruction I have provided a very rugged, economical and simple typeof Jack cons-truction or construction adaptable in certain instances asa body repair kit tool. In the event that the device is used as a bodyrepair kit tool, the upper` load member 56 is removed and the upper andlower portions of the housing are suitably threaded.

In some instances I prefer to make the housing body of the jack of sheetmetal construction, for instance as shown in my prior application SerialNo. 74,969, flied April 17, 1936, in which case the relative slidingmovement of the two clutch sections during their canting wil-l tend toprovide a certain amount of flexibility to offset any binding action dueto any possible lateral movement of the sheet metal housing relativelyto the support rod during operation of the jack.

The claims of this application are directed more particularly to thelaminated clutch conlstruction, claims to other features of the deviceshown being presented in applications of applicant copending herewith,including applications, Serial No. 43,752, filed October 5, 1935; SerialNo. 74,969, filed April 17, 1936; Serial No. 101,693, flied September21, 1936, and Serial No. 184,174, iiledJanuary 10, 1938.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the specificembodiment of the invention set forth for purposes of illustrationwithout departing from the spirit ofthe invention. The invention isaccordingly not to 'be limited to tb'.I precise embodiment shown, butonly as indicated in the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, 2 ,what is claimed as new and isdesired .to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of an elongatedrod forming a support, a housing adapted to slide along said rod, clutchmeans pivotally mounted on said housing and having an openingtherethrough through which said rod is adapted to pass, said clutchmeans being formed of a plurality of separable layers, and means foractuating said clutch means to cause the same to grip the rod and topropel the housing along said rod.

2. In a device of the'class described, the combination of an elongatedrod forming a support, an elongated housing having an opening throughwhich the rod is adapted to pass, clutch means pivotally mounted withinsaid housing and having an opening through which the rod is adapted topass, said clutch means being formed of sheet metal stampings lying insuperposed relation upon each other, and means for causing said clutchmeans to grip and to release said rod.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of an elongatedrod forming a support, an elongated housing having an opening throughwhich the rod is adapted to pass, clutch means pivotally mounted withinsaid housing and having an opening through which the rod is adapted topass, said clutch means being formed of sheet metal stamplngs lying insuperposed relation upon each other, and means for causing said clutchmeans to grip and to release said rod, the opening in said clutch meansforming biting Jaws grip- Dingly to engage said rod.

4. A clutch for devices of the class described formed of a plurality oflayers of sheet metal disposed in superposed registering relation, each-ture built up from a layer including a generally circular centralportion provided with a hole therethrough and substantiallydiametrically oppositely extending lugs, one of said lugs forming apivot for the clutch and the opposite lug being constructed and arrangedto receive an operating lever, the edges of each layer at the holeforming grippingl surfaces for the clutch.

5. A jack comprising a base, an upright rod, a

housing adapted longitudinally to slide along said ,l

rod, said housing having registering apertures to receive the rodtherethrough, the upper portion of the housing carrying.a load-carryingmember, clutch means mounted in said housing and having openings throughwhich the rod will pass, said clutch means comprising a vplurality ofsuperimposed sheet metal stampings having gripping edges adapted to gripthe supporting rod, and means for actuating the clutch means.

6. VIn friction jacks and the like, relatively movable members, one ofsaid members taking the form of a relatively smooth surfaced bar, afriction clutch interposed between said members for transmitting theload from one member to the other, said clutch comprising a laminatedstrucplurality of relatively thin sheet metall platea slidable upon oneanother.

, form of a relatively smooth spaced opposed portions of each platedefining `an opening slightly greater than the thickness of said barthrough which said bar extends, said opposed portions of said platesgripping said bar and. an individually canted position upon said barwhen' said laminated structure is canted as a unit. p f

'1. In friction Jacks and the like. relatively movable members, oneofsaid members taking the surfaced bar. a pair of friction clutchesinterposed between said membcrs for transmitting Y to 'the other, one ofsaid clutches serving as a the load from one member locking detent andtheother oi said clutches serving at an elevating detent.' said clutchescomprising a plurality of relatively thin plates slidable upononeanother,

opening slightly greater bar through which said than the thickness ofsaid bar extends, said opposed portions of saidpiates gripvins said barand an individually frocanted position upon said bar when said clutchesare canted as a unitary structure.

8. In friction'lacks and the like, relatively movable members, one ofwhich takes the form of a bar, a friction clutch interpolod spacedopposed portions .'stampings having plates having Aaligned openingsthrough which said bar extends, each of said plates gripping said barand assuming an individually canted position upon said bar when saidclutch is canted` upon said bar as a unit.

9. A friction clutch for jacks and the like, comprising a plurality ofsuperimposed relatively thin metal plates, said plates being slidableupon one another and having aligned openings to receive a bar vto beindividually gripped by each plate when said clutch is in a cantedposition upon the bar.

10. In a lifting mechanism including a supporting column and a housingmounted for relative vertical movement with respect to said supportingcolumn, a plurality of lifting plates within said housing disposed invsuperimposed relation with respect to each other, each of said liftingplates having an aperture therethrough through which said supportingcolumn passes, means for simultaneously tilting all of said plates. saidplates being slidable with respect to each other whereby when saidplatesv are tilted, each may frictionally engage said columnsubstantially independently of each other. l

11. In a lifting mechanism including a supporting column and afhousingmounted for relative vertical movement with respect to said supportingcolumn, a plurality of lifting plates within said housing disposed insuperimposed relation with respect to each other,each of said liftingplates having an aperture therethrough through which said supportingcolumn passes, means for simultaneously tilting all of said plates, saidplates being slidable with respect to each other whereby when saidplates are tilted, each may frictionally engage said columnsubstantially independently of each' other, said plates being bodilyvertically movable a substantial distance with respect to said housing,and resilient means for supporting said plates in predetermined positionwith respect to said housing.

12.7In a lifting mechanism including a supporting column and a housingmounted for relative vertical movement with respect tcsaid supportingcolumn, a plurality o! lifting plates within said housing disposed insuperimposed relation with respect to each other, each of said plateshaving an aperture therethrough, through which said supporting columnpasses', means for simultaneously tilting all of said plates, saidplates being slidable transversely with respect to each other, wherebywhen said plates are tilted each may frictionally engage said columnsubstan independently of each other, and a plurality of superimposedlocking ing an aperture through which said supporting column' passes,and resilient means normally serving to tilt said locking' plateswhereby the same will each frictionally engage said lifting column.

in to receive a clutch supporting rod, the edges of the sheet metalstampings at the holes forming biting edges.

' MIILARD B. LUCKER.

plates each similarly hav-A

